Rabbi Elhanan ‘Sunny’ Schnitzer

“I never found a spiritual home (not for lack of trying!) until I met Rabbi Schnitzer and Bethesda Jewish Congregation. When my son (3 years old at the time) saw a Star Wars Pez collection in Schnitzer’s office, the rabbi encouraged him to check them out. He scrambled up into the big desk chair on more than one occasion throughout the years (and became a bar mitzvah two months ago). My daughter (now 20) lists Schnitzer in the top three people she would go to if she couldn’t talk to me. I surely didn’t feel that way about my rabbi when I was a young adult! When my husband died unexpectedly three years ago, Rabbi Schnitzer was at my home within minutes and didn’t leave until I felt strong enough. He is a rock.”

—JOAN WOLF (also nominated by 11 others)

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